The $263 million project involves a multi-lane widening of 22.2 miles of I-26 from U.S. Highway 25 in East Flat Rock to I-40 in Buncombe County, and includes an overhaul of overpasses.

Between 45,000 and 80,000 or more cars travel the busy interstate on an average day outside of tourist season, according to Undrea Major, project development engineer for DOT. The steady flow of cars has led to traffic snarls, but relieving the congestion has been stalled by critics who have said the money would be better spent elsewhere or that widening would harm the environment.

The DOT planned to build a new interstate interchange to relieve traffic at Clear Creek Road that would have bulldozed an office park and part of Patton Park to bring people down the newly-widened Asheville Highway in 2000. It sparked a public outcry, however, and the plans were shelved.

A few years later, local leaders urged DOT to use the money instead to widen I-26 in Henderson County. That plan was halted in 2003 when U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle sided with environmentalists in a lawsuit to block the project, saying state law required DOT to study its environmental impact.

The DOT has been studying how all highway projects and growth in the area through the next few decades will affect the environment, according to Major.

Proposed improvements are aimed at relieving congestion, but the first phase of construction may not begin until fiscal year 2019-20, with the final phase earmarked for startup in 2030, if all goes well.

Major said the phases are tentative, with construction phased in over time to cause the least disruption to motorists.

We're "taking everything into consideration right now," he said. "We want to look at everything."

Thursday's informational meeting will be an important part of the process.

"As part of our process, we want to get involvement from the public where we get comments locally to help us make our decisions. We want to analyze impacts to the natural environment and the human environment... to determine what kinds of concerns may be on the ground there locally," Major said.

He added that the DOT considers other avenues outside of widening when looking at improving congestion in areas, such as improving thoroughfares along the corridor and studying public transit.

Although widening I-26 has proven controversial in the past, Major said the DOT plans to do the responsible thing, taking a look within reason at "all of the influences to impacts along the corridor."

The big thing, he said, is "really educating the public on our process," he said. We want to "do the proper investigation, start the dialogue and keep the communication going so we make informed decisions."

The public is invited to attend at any time during the workshop hours to speak individually with NCDOT officials and review the project area map. There will not be a formal presentation.

The opportunity to submit written comments or questions will be provided. Comments and suggestions received will be considered during the design phase.

For more information, contact Major, NCDOT Project Development and Environmental Analysis Unit, at 919-707-6028 or ujmajor@ncdot.gov.

<p>The N.C. Department of Transportation will hold an informational workshop Thursday to gauge public interest on a proposed project to widen Interstate 26 — a measure blocked by critics in the past.</p><p>The $263 million project involves a multi-lane widening of 22.2 miles of I-26 from U.S. Highway 25 in East Flat Rock to I-40 in Buncombe County, and includes an overhaul of overpasses.</p><p>Between 45,000 and 80,000 or more cars travel the busy interstate on an average day outside of tourist season, according to Undrea Major, project development engineer for DOT. The steady flow of cars has led to traffic snarls, but relieving the congestion has been stalled by critics who have said the money would be better spent elsewhere or that widening would harm the environment.</p><p>The DOT planned to build a new interstate interchange to relieve traffic at Clear Creek Road that would have bulldozed an office park and part of Patton Park to bring people down the newly-widened Asheville Highway in 2000. It sparked a public outcry, however, and the plans were shelved.</p><p>A few years later, local leaders urged DOT to use the money instead to widen I-26 in Henderson County. That plan was halted in 2003 when U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle sided with environmentalists in a lawsuit to block the project, saying state law required DOT to study its environmental impact.</p><p>The DOT has been studying how all highway projects and growth in the area through the next few decades will affect the environment, according to Major. </p><p>Proposed improvements are aimed at relieving congestion, but the first phase of construction may not begin until fiscal year 2019-20, with the final phase earmarked for startup in 2030, if all goes well.</p><p>Major said the phases are tentative, with construction phased in over time to cause the least disruption to motorists. </p><p>We're "taking everything into consideration right now," he said. "We want to look at everything."</p><p>Thursday's informational meeting will be an important part of the process. </p><p>"As part of our process, we want to get involvement from the public where we get comments locally to help us make our decisions. We want to analyze impacts to the natural environment and the human environment... to determine what kinds of concerns may be on the ground there locally," Major said.</p><p>He added that the DOT considers other avenues outside of widening when looking at improving congestion in areas, such as improving thoroughfares along the corridor and studying public transit.</p><p>Although widening I-26 has proven controversial in the past, Major said the DOT plans to do the responsible thing, taking a look within reason at "all of the influences to impacts along the corridor."</p><p>The big thing, he said, is "really educating the public on our process," he said. We want to "do the proper investigation, start the dialogue and keep the communication going so we make informed decisions."</p><p>The public is invited to attend at any time during the workshop hours to speak individually with NCDOT officials and review the project area map. There will not be a formal presentation. </p><p>The opportunity to submit written comments or questions will be provided. Comments and suggestions received will be considered during the design phase.</p><p>For more information, contact Major, NCDOT Project Development and Environmental Analysis Unit, at 919-707-6028 or ujmajor@ncdot.gov. </p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>